Third rail.



No. 794,660. PATENTED JULY 11, 1905.

' E. R. BRODTON.

THIRD RAIL.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 3.1904.

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THIRD RAIL.

APPLICATION IILED SEPT. 3.1904.

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UNITED STATES Patented July 11, 1905.

PATENT ()EEICE.

THIRD RAIL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,660, dated July 11, 1905.

Application filed September 3, 1904-.- Serial No. 223,249.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD It. BRODTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Third Rails, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a conductor for electric circuits of that type commonly known as a third rail, which is generally placed between the rails of a railway-track for carrying currents of electricity from a station to one or more cars or trains running over said tracks or between separate trains or cars on the sameor an intersecting track.

The device of this invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with the electric system set forth in my application Serial No. 223,250, filed concurrently herewith.

The principal object of this invention is to secure in a compact yet readily-accessible form a number of exposed conductors with which brushes or contacts carried by a train or car are in constant or intermittent contact during the progress of a train or car over the track.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of my improved third rail. Fig. 2 represents a crosssection thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line a a of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line b b of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a View in cross-section representing a stringer placed between a cross-tie and the third rail. Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of the construction illustrated in the preceding figure. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of a stringer used in connection with this invention. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

Similar reference-numerals indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The numeral 1 indicates the third rail as a whole, which in this case comprises two outside sections 2 and 3 and an intermediate section 4, insulated from each other, bolted together, and spiked to cross-ties 5. Instead of one intermediate section 4 a number of such sections may be used. The intermediate section 4 consists of a straight piece of rectangular cross-section, its greatest measurement being from top to bottom. The outer sections 2 and 3also stand vertically, each section having a lower outwardly-projecting flange 6 resting on the cross-ties to engage the fasten ing-spikes and a smaller lateral flange or bead 7 at its upper end, the tops of the rail being in the same plane. The inner faces of the outer sections stand vertically and are provided each with a longitudinal groove 8 for the reception of conductor wires or strips 9 and 10, which extend throughout the length of the rail 1. Similar wires or strips may be carried by the intermediate section 4. At suitable intervals in the length of the rail are placed contactplates 11 and 12, one of each being shown in the drawings. The contact-plates 11 are situated between the outer section 2 and the intermediate section A and insulated therefrom, while the contact-plates 12 are placed between the outer section 3 and the intermediate section and also insulated. It will be understood that while the contact-plates 11 and 12 are insulated from the sections 2, 3, and 4, as described, they are in circuit by means of wires (not shown) with any suitable form of registering device, as fully set forth in my hereinbefore-mentioned application. By inspecting my hereinbefore-mentioned application it will be understood that the outside sections 2 and 3 serve, respectively, as the outgoing and the returning feeder of a telephone system which includes a telephone-circuitthrough the locomotive or other part of the train. This circuit is maintained in closed position by suit able contact brushes or wheels running upon said outside sections 2 and 3. The conductor wires or strips 9, which are composed of any suitable conducting material, serve to facilitate the passage of the electric current along said outside sections 2 and 3. As set forth in my hereinbefore-mentioned application, the contact-plates 11 and 12 are in circuit with a suitable registering device, by means of which when the car passes over the contact-plates and closes a circuit by connecting said plates with one another temporarily the distance of said train from its starting-point is accurately registered. The intermediate section 4 forms a part of a circuit which includes two trains approaching each other upon the same track,

said circuit being completed through the groundthat is to say, each train isin contact with the intermediate rail 4 and is provided with a suitable generating-battery, the circuit being grounded through one of the wheels of the train in contact with the ordinary track. As the trains approach each other the strength of the current increases, thus indicating the position of the two trains and serving to prevent a collision.

The several sections 2, 3, and 4 are firmly connected to one another by nutted bolts 13, passing transversely through the sections and through spacing-collars 14 between the sections to retain said sections in proper relation one to the other. Insulatingwashers 15 are introduced between the bolts and spacingcollars and the sections 2, 3, and 4. Insulating material 16 is also placed around the bolts where they pass through the sections of the I rail 1, spacing-collars, and contact-plates.

To prevent water from collecting on the cross-ties 5 between the sections 2, 3, and 4, especially during heavy rains, and short-circuiting the currents, the ties are cut away at the spaces between the sections, as represented in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The cut-away portions 17, running downwardly from sharp edges 18, preferably at the centers of the ties to their sides, will rapidly drain off any water that falls on the ties at these points.

In some cases it is desirable to raise the third rail 1 above the cross-ties, in which case stringers 19 are spiked to the cross ties 5 parallel to the track and the third rail fastened to the stringers. At suitable intervals the stringers are left flat on the top, as at 20,

end of the stringer is also formed with an inclined surface 22 in the center of the support for carrying away water.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A conductor or third rail for electrical circuits, comprising a plurality of sections joined together and insulated from one another, contact-plates between two sections and situated at intervals in the length of said third rail, and a conducting wire or strip carried by one of said sections.

2. A conductor or third rail for electric circuits, comprising a plurality of sections connected together and insulated from one another. conducting wires orstrips carried by said sections, and insulated contact-plates between pairs of said sections and situated at intervals in the length of said third rail.

3. A third rail comprising three sections insulated from each other, and pairs of contact-plates arranged between said sections and insulated therefrom.

4. A conductor or third rail for electrical circuits comprising three parallel, connected sections insulated from one another, conducting wires or strips carried in slots in the outside sections and a series of insulated contactplates between each outer and intermediate sections and in line with each other.

5. Combined with a conductor or third rail for electrical circuits placed between the rails of a railroad-track, the supports for said third rail having grooves or notches inclining downwardly and outwardly to carry ofl Water from said third rail.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, EDWARD R. BRODTON.

Witnesses:

GHAs. P. GLoVER, MARY MARTIN. 

